For most, the word Honolulu conjures visions of a Hawaiian paradise—but for artist and curator Jasper Wong, the capital city's lack of culture was enough to drive him to seek his fortune elsewhere. He found it offered neither the creative vibrancy of San Francisco—where he would decamp to study illustration—nor the opportunities to show work in reputable galleries, which he then pursued in Hong Kong.

While in Hong Kong, he noticed the gallery culture was "more about selling work, and less about promoting young artists." Frustrated, he opened Above Second gallery, where his first order of business was hosting an experimental show: he commissioned five artists to create large-scale artworks for a live audience, only for the work to be destroyed afterwards. "We weren't trying to sell work," recalls Wong. "It was just for fun." He called the show Pow! Wow!, emphasizing the communal spirit of an event intended to spark a conversation between the artists and the audience.

Jonas Maon

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Six years later, Pow! Wow! has evolved into an internationally touring outdoor mural festival. with last year's installment making stops in Tokyo, Long Beach, Austin, and three cities in Taiwan (Taipei, Tainan, and Taichung). While the bureaucracy of some city governments make securing clearance to paint on public property a bit tricky, Wong and his team have successfully organized each Honolulu show by simply approaching building owners directly about working with their unused spaces. This year, more than 80 artists—including notables like Kevin Lyons and James Jean—will kick off the year by creating murals throughout downtown Honolulu. Despite the involvement of some bigger names, Wong's focus with Pow! Wow! remains on promoting emerging talent. The festival kicks off today and, to celebrate, Wong gives us his top five artists to look out for (remember, these works aren't the ones in Honolulu, as those haven't been made yet).

For most, the word Honolulu conjures visions of a Hawaiian paradise—but for artist and curator Jasper Wong, the capital city's lack of culture was enough to drive him to seek his fortune elsewhere. He found it offered neither the creative vibrancy of San Francisco—where he would decamp to study illustration—nor the opportunities to show work in reputable galleries, which he then pursued in Hong Kong.

While in Hong Kong, he noticed the gallery culture was "more about selling work, and less about promoting young artists." Frustrated, he opened Above Second gallery, where his first order of business was hosting an experimental show: he commissioned five artists to create large-scale artworks for a live audience, only for the work to be destroyed afterwards. "We weren't trying to sell work," recalls Wong. "It was just for fun." He called the show Pow! Wow!, emphasizing the communal spirit of an event intended to spark a conversation between the artists and the audience.

Jonas Maon

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Six years later, Pow! Wow! has evolved into an internationally touring outdoor mural festival. with last year's installment making stops in Tokyo, Long Beach, Austin, and three cities in Taiwan (Taipei, Tainan, and Taichung). While the bureaucracy of some city governments make securing clearance to paint on public property a bit tricky, Wong and his team have successfully organized each Honolulu show by simply approaching building owners directly about working with their unused spaces. This year, more than 80 artists—including notables like Kevin Lyons and James Jean—will kick off the year by creating murals throughout downtown Honolulu. Despite the involvement of some bigger names, Wong's focus with Pow! Wow! remains on promoting emerging talent. The festival kicks off today and, to celebrate, Wong gives us his top five artists to look out for (remember, these works aren't the ones in Honolulu, as those haven't been made yet).

Brandon Shigeta

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Haroshi

"Haroshi reuses old skateboards to create these incredibly complex sculptures," says Wong. "I've admired his work for a long time." Audiences can check out pieces at the Honolulu Museum of Art, as well as Big Bad Wolf—the official Pow! Wow! pop-up shop.

"Still Pushing Despite the Odds 1" (2015), by Haroshi.

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Slinkachu

Wong wants people not only to engage with the murals, but with Honolulu as a whole. "Slinkachu makes small installations that encourage you to look in the nooks and crannies," he says. "Go beyond the surface to find installations of tiny people interacting with the environment."

"The Jetty" (2014), by Slinkachu.

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1010

Wong also selected a German artist who goes by the name of 1010. "He makes these colorful holes that seem to disappear into eternity," says Wong. "His work is both arresting and mind-boggling." Catch 1010's mural on the corner of Auahi and Queen Street.

"Abyss_52" (2015), by 1010.

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Audrey Kawasaki

"Audrey Kawasaki's portraits of women convey both innocence and a hidden sensuality," Wong says. While she's relatively new to the world of murals, she'll be painting one of her largest to date in Honolulu, on Pohukaina Street.

"Where I Rest" (2011), by Audrey Kawasaki.

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Risk

Wong calls Risk "a legend in every respect." After watching the artist evolve over the years, he forecasts that his upcoming mural on the corner Queen Street and Ward Avenue "will become a Honolulu landmark."